Armée des Philippines / Armed Forces of the Philippines / Sandatahang Lakas ng Pilipinas

Rappel du premier message :

La Turque a vendu 6 ZMA aux Philippines, voici la vidéo:

http://www.trt.net.tr/Haber/HaberDetay.aspx?HaberKodu=6d08972d-a29d-4110-9cb8-5b1a2f0ce1ef

CARAT Philippines 2013

Citation :

PHILIPPINE SEA (June 29, 2013) The Philippine Coast Guard vessel Edsa (SARV 002), left, and the Philippine Navy frigate Gregorio Del Pilar (PF 15) steam in formation during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2013. More than 600 Sailors and Marines are participating in CARAT Philippines 2013. U.S. Navy units participating in CARAT Philippines include the Fitzgerald with embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 staff, a U.S. Marine Corps landing force, and the diving and salvage vessels USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) and USNS Salvor (T-ARS 52) with embarked Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1.

Citation :

PHILIPPINE SEA (June 29, 2013) Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) wave at the Philippine Navy frigate Gregorio Del Pilar (PF 15) during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2013.

Citation :

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (June 28, 2013) A Philippine Marine secures a passageway during a visit, board, search and seizure training event held in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2013.

Citation :

SUBIC BAY, Philippines (June 28, 2013) Electronics Technician 1st Class Anthony Nekervis, left, assigned to Maritime Civil Affairs and Security Training Command (MCAST), teaches members of the Philippine Marines visit, board, search and seizure techniques in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2013.

Citation :

Philippine Navy frigate BRP Ramon Alcaraz PF-16, former U.S.C.G.C. Dallas, WHEC-716, at San Diego, California on June 29, 2013

Citation :

Philippines to buy 2 frigates from Italy
Agence France-Presse


MANILA - The Philippines is set to buy two Maestrale-class frigates from Italy, a defense official said Wednesday, as the Asian nation races to upgrade its military amid mounting territorial disputes with China.

The frigates, along with 12 FA-50 fighter aircraft, are the most significant items on the government's 75-billion-peso ($1.7-billion) military modernization budget over the next five years, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said.

"We are modernizing not because we want to go to war with China," he told a news conference.

He said the government had a sworn obligation to defend the "West Philippine Sea," using the government's preferred term for Philippine-claimed areas in the South China Sea.

"We are not saying that this is part of our preparations to assert our sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea. What we are saying is that we cannot just give them up."

The frigates would add to two refurbished Hamilton-class cutters formerly used by the US Coast Guard that the Philippines acquired from its US ally to upgrade its ageing navy fleet, which includes some vessels that first saw action in World War II.

Manalo said the navy had already decided to acquire two new Maestrale-class frigates instead of buying used ones from the Italian navy, and had budgeted 18 billion pesos for them.

The Philippines could be ready to tender by the end of the year, he added.

Meanwhile, the government had alloted 18.9 billion pesos to acquire the fighter aircraft, which are built by South Korea, he added.

The modernization budget also provides for building or improving facilities to berth and provide maintenance to the vessels on the military's shopping list, Manalo said.

President Benigno Aquino vowed Monday to rebuild the air force by 2016.

The Philippines, which has one of the weakest military forces in the region, retired the last of its US-designed F-5 fighters in 2005.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Citation :

Philippine Air Force to get 8 new attack choppers

By Alexis Romero, The Philippine Star
Posted at 07/10/2013 12:55 AM | Updated as of 07/10/2013 12:55 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Eight brand new attack helicopters capable of navigating safely in bad weather will be acquired for P3.4 billion for the Air Force.

A bid bulletin of the Department of National Defense (DND) shows that the project would involve the purchase of eight helicopters with full night operation capability, complete weapons system and integrated logistics support package.

“These helicopters shall be capable of performing close air support during day and night,” read the bulletin.

The deadline for the submission of bids has been slated tentatively on July 24, but it can be moved if prospective bidders request for an extension.

The DND said: “The guiding principles for this project shall be based on affordability and sustainability while conforming to the requirements of our Air Force in furtherance of accomplishing its mission.”

A prospective bidder, to be qualified, must have completed within 10 years from the date of submission of bids a contract similar to the project.

Bids that are higher than the approved budget contract of P3.4 billion will be rejected at the outset.

The helicopters must be delivered within 540 calendar days from the opening of the letter of credit, which serves as an assurance that the government would pay the winning bidder.

The Air Force’s inventory has been depleted due to recent accidents that killed some of its pilots.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cherchent des Mangusta ?

12 FA-12 pour 460M$ ... les négociations devront prendre fin d'ici le mois prochain

http://www.infosdefense.com/les-philippines-comptent-acheter-12-fa-50-85613/

Fremo a écrit:

12 FA-12 pour 460M$ ... les négociations devront prendre fin d'ici le mois prochain

http://www.infosdefense.com/les-philippines-comptent-acheter-12-fa-50-85613/

c'est assez chère quand meme

arsenik a écrit:

Fremo a écrit:

12 FA-12 pour 460M$ ... les négociations devront prendre fin d'ici le mois prochain

http://www.infosdefense.com/les-philippines-comptent-acheter-12-fa-50-85613/

c'est assez chère quand meme

à même pas 40 millions l'avions si c'est un package complet alors non c'est pas cher du tout

Citation :

Philippine Coast Guard to buy ex-French Navy patrol ship

By JC CahinhinanJuly 19, 2013 / 17:09 PHT



The Philippine Coast Guard is set to acquire a former French Navy vessel worth €6 million to boost its off-shore patrol capabilities in the West Philippine Sea.

Coast Guard commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena said the procurement of 54.8-meter French Navy vessel La Tapageuse has already been approved by Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya.

Isorena said the PCG is looking forward to this new acquisition that is expected to boost its capability for maritime search and rescue operations, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime environmental protection and maritime security.

"This French vessel is multi-functional and it would be a major contribution to our fleet. Unlike other vessels that are more appropriate for (Search and Rescue) operations, this soon-to-be latest addition was made for sovereignty patrol and law enforcement", Isorena said.

He added the vessel will be deployed to places like the West Philippine Sea, Northern Luzon, and Southern Mindanao.

The Tapaguese has a built-in 40-millimeter anti-aircraft gun, a 20-millimeter anti-aircraft cannon, and two 7.62-millimeter machine guns.

The PCG will be buying the ship at a reasonable price of €399,000 but the refurbishing of the ship would entail additional cost. The Philippine government will be spending a total of €6.295 million or an equivalent of Php 354,754,000 million.

Tapaguese, until recently stationed in Papeete, French Polynesia, is expected to arrive in the country in April next year.

The Coast Guard chief explained that while the vessel is already 26 years old, it was thoroughly inspected last year and it was assessed to have another 20 years of usage yet.


Photo: Tapaguese at sea off Tahiti in 2003/ Jean-Michel Roche

The Philippine government is also in talks with French government for four brand new 24-meter and one 82-meter multipurpose vessels.

Meanwhile, Isorena also mentioned the construction of 10 multi-role patrol boats with Japan and noted the PCG and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is in the last phase of the agreement resolving the issue that five of the boats would be made in Japan and five boats by shipbuilders in the Philippines.

“One of the agenda in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scheduled visit to our country next month is to finalize the details of the agreement in the construction of the multi-role vessels. We anticipate the arrival of these ships in year 2016”, the PCG commandant said.

The country’s maritime law enforcement agency is also anticipating the arrival of at least 25 out of a total 300 aluminium-hull boats this coming September. The remaining 275 boats, manufactured in Subic, will come in a staggered schedule until April next year.

The boats, which can seat 10, will be deployed for interisland, coastline and harbor-type patrols.

“There have been instances wherein our Coast Guard personnel had to hire the services of a fishing boat in order to respond to a situation and this takes time," Isorena said. He said the deployment of the aluminum-hull boats will improve the PCG's response time.

--

Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

http://manila.coconuts.co/2013/07/19/philippine-coast-guard-buy-ex-french-navy-patrol-ship

Citation :

Defense chief says purchase of 8 Sokol choppers from Poland is last



MANILA, Philippines—”Of what use is a combat helicopter if you cannot use its machine gun?” President Aquino asked in his State of the Nation Address on Monday.

On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the purchase of eight Sokol helicopters from Poland would be the last by the Department of National Defense (DND) since they could not be used in combat, after all.

“I understand helicopters because I’m a combat officer. The first thing I noticed was, why do you have to remove the machine gun before you can get inside it? The entrance is too narrow, it’s all wrong,” said Gazmin, a former Army Special Forces commander.

The P2.8-billion deal with Augusta PZL Swidnik of Italy and Poland for eight Sokol helicopters had been signed, sealed and delivered when he assumed office in July 2010, Gazmin said.

“We just had to make the payment,” he said.

The eight Sokol (Falcon in Polish) helicopters were delivered in two batches in 2012.

The contract was finalized during the last months of the Arroyo administration when Norberto Gonzales, the national security adviser, was also defense secretary.

When the first batch of four choppers arrived in March 2012, the PAF hailed the addition to their depleted air assets.

The Sokols were supposed to replace the Vietnam-vintage UH-1H Huey helicopters the PAF used in search and rescue, medical evacuation and combat utility missions.

But in his Sona on Monday, President Aquino said the helicopters could not be used to ferry soldiers to combat zones because the machine guns were mounted at the door, blocking entry and exit.

“If you are a soldier entering the fray at the height of battle, of what use is a machine gun that is set aside and unable to fire? Did no one think about this before the contracts were signed? Why was this even approved in the first place?” Aquino said.

Gazmin said he had not made up his mind whether or not to order an investigation and go after those responsible for the purchase of the Sokols even if these did not meet the PAF’s requirements.

“We’ll study that. I cannot answer that question yet,” he said.

He said the helicopters would be used in search and rescue missions and the DND would proceed with the acquisition of attack helicopters. “But no longer the Sokol. We are looking at other brands of aircraft and helicopters.”

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net

Citation :

What is the BRP Alcaraz, our second warship, capable of?


MANILA - What is the Philippines’ second warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz capable of in terms of firepower?

While it has no missile system, the former Hamilton-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has been equipped with two units of 25mm bushmaster gun system for defensive purposes.

The Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., which manufactures missile systems, has offered a proposal to the Department of National Defense (DND) to arm the ship with a missile system, a Navy source told InterAksyon.com.

BRP Alcaraz has not been equipped with missile system because “under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS), arming the ship with sophisticated weapons such as missiles needs the approval of (the US) Congress.”

Also, such weapons are very expensive and were not included in the acquisition plan of the BRP Alcaraz, the source said.

“Makikita niyo bukas kung naka-mount na ba itong dalawang machineguns na ito sa may bandang likuran ng barko o hindi pa (You will see tomorrow if these two machineguns have already been mounted toward the back of the ship or not). This type of gun system is for defensive purposes,” the source said.

He said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar will most likely be installed with a missile system first.

Like the BRP del Pilar, the first acquisition from the USCG, the BRP Alcaraz has a 76mm machine.

Decommissioned by the USCG several years ago, the two cutters were bought and refurbished by the Navy for more than P1 billion to boost its naval capability for territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against aggressors such as China.

On Tuesday, President Benigno Aquino III will lead the welcoming and commissioning of BRP Alcaraz at Subic, Zambales, where it is currently anchored after almost a month of sea voyage from the US.

The skipper of BRP Alcaraz is Capt. Renato Baldovino, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1991.

Some of his batch mates are currently skippers of Navy ships or battalion commanders in the Army and Marines.

Baldovino topped the Naval Officer Qualification Course and was formerly assigned at the PMA Training Cadets. He underwent commandership in patrol gunboats and patrol craft escort.

A licensed electronics and communications engineer, he is also a seasoned skipper of Navy ships, assigned from Luzon to Mindanao, including a stint in patrolling WPS particularly the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG).

http://www.interaksyon.com

45M$ l'unité  

Citation :

Philippine; Navy looks at Indonesian Ship yard sea lift vessels

Philippines Department of National Defense is negotiating procurement of two ' strategic sealift vessels from Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL to for the Philippine Navy. Value of the negotiated deal is $90 million.

http://dmilt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7797:philippine-navy-looks-at-indonesian-ship-yard-sea-lift-vessels-&catid=3:asia&Itemid=56

9 septembre- combat entre les forces gouvernementale et le Front de libération National Moro (MNLF).

Citation :

Philippines Gets US Patrol Boats To Fight Militants


MANILA — The United States gave the Philippine military six patrol boats Wednesday to be used in a southern region where armed Muslim militants are active, the military said.
The small-unit riverine craft (SURCs) are part of a US programme to train and equip foreign military forces for "counter-terrorism", Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Alano said in a statement.
"The SURCs will be deployed to augment our sea-based forces to address terrorism and lawlessness such as the current crisis in Mindanao," Alano added.
For the past three weeks, thousands of elite troops have been battling Muslim guerrillas of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) who occupied several coastal villages in the key southern port of Zamboanga on Mindanao island.
Mindanao and nearby island groups are also a hotbed of other armed groups including communist guerrillas, bandits and Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic extremist group blamed for the country's worst terror attacks.
Funded by the late Al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, Abu Sayyaf has targetted foreigners with kidnappings for ransom.
The group killed two Americans in a 2001 hostage crisis that lasted more than a year.
US troops have been based in the southern Philippines since 2002 to help train local troops in hunting down members of the Abu Sayyaf, which is on the US government's list of so-called foreign terrorist organisations.
Designed to patrol rivers and coastal areas, the high-speed, small-unit riverine craft can carry 14 fully-armed marines and six crew members, Philippine marine spokesman Captain Rowan Rimas told AFP.
The boats are worth a combined $12 million, he added.



http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130925/DEFREG03/309250014/Philippines-Gets-US-Patrol-Boats-Fight-Militants

Citation :

BEEFING UP | PH planning to acquire 3 submarines, other military assets - report


MANILA - The Philippines plans to acquire three submarines and among many other military assets, Northern Luzon Command head Major Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang says in a paper cited by the state-run Philippine News Agency.
PNA quoted Catapang as noting that submarines, by their inherent stealth capabilities, may be deployed to monitor and protect the country's extensive maritime domains. The vessels being eyed are conventional-powered or diesel-electric types, and not the nuclear-powered ones.
Also supposedly being eyed is the acquisition of six frigates for anti-air warfare, 12 corvettes for anti-submarine warfare, 18 offshore patrol vessels, and three anti-mine warfare ships.
The PNA said Catapang's paper did not specify when and how much it will cost the Philippines to complete these acquisitions.
An earlier Philippine Navy (PN) study revealed that some P497 billion is needed to fully upgrade its fleet.
Once it has this money, the Navy will acquire the above-mentioned items along with four sealift vessels, 18 landing craft utility vessels, three logistics ships, 12 coastal interdiction patrol boats, 30 patrol gunboats, and 42 multi-purpose assault craft that can be equipped with torpedoes and missiles.
Also envisioned are eight amphibious maritime patrol aircraft, 18 naval helicopters, and eight multi-purpose helicopters.
"Looking at the PN's inventory of mission essential equipment, it is very discernible that the majority of our assets and vessels were acquired not necessarily because they fit into our strategy or operational requirement but because they are available as grant from the US or from our allies," the PN study said.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/72226/beefing-up--ph-planning-to-acquire-3-submarines-other-military-assets

Citation :

Phl eyes frigates from India



MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines, which is beefing up its defense capability, is considering the procurement of naval frigates from India.
Philippine officials discussed this the other day with a visiting delegation from India led by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.
India has intensified its engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as part of its “Look East” policy in the past decade.
Khurshid, who met yesterday with Vice President Jejomar Binay, said the relationship between the two countries is “extremely important.”
“Now is the time to begin a new chapter,” Khurshid said yesterday over lunch with Filipino officials as he emphasized the two countries’ “shared aspirations and shared attitudes.”
The Philippines is eyeing the procurement of two frigates from India, a nuclear power with its own military shipbuilding capability.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/10/23/1248390/phl-eyes-frigates-india

Citation :

11 firms interested in P18-B ship deal

MANILA, Philippines - Eleven companies have expressed interest to join the bidding for the acquisition of two Navy ships worth P18 billion.
The 11 firms are Piriou Naval Services, Navantia Sepi (RTR Ventures), Thyssenkrupp Marine System, STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, Damen Shipyards, Fincantieri, STX France SA, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Inc., Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd., DCNS France and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd., according to data The STAR has obtained  from the Department of National Defense (DND).
It remains uncertain though if all these companies will join the bidding to be held this month.
The frigate acquisition project aims to boost the Navy’s territorial defense capability and disaster response efforts. The project is one of the big-ticket items in the military’s shopping list.
The winning bidder must deliver the ships within four years from the opening of a letter of credit.
The vessels will arrive after President Aquino’s term ends in 2016.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said the vessels can be used to boost the country’s security presence in the West Philippine Sea, repatriate migrant workers and respond to calamities.
The frigates to be acquired will be equipped with ammunition, according to a DND bid bulletin issued recently.
The bidding will be held in two stages due to the technical and detailed nature of the project.
The first stage bids must be submitted to the DND on or before Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. Late bids, as well as those that are higher than the approved budget of P18 billion, will not be accepted.
In the first stage of bidding, officials will screen the offers and determine which of them are qualified to proceed to the next stage.
Eligible bidders will be notified for the second stage bidding upon the completion and validation of the documents they submitted.
The date for the second stage bidding has yet to be announced.
Originally, the government planned to buy second-hand ships, but eventually decided to buy brand-new ones.
Previously, security officials said acquiring second-hand ships would be more costly in the long run as these would require upgrades and repairs.
The two frigates to be acquired for the Navy are expected to complement the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the two warships acquired recently from the US. 

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/10/15/1245431/11-firms-interested-p18-b-ship-deal

Citation :

Italian firm bags P3-B PAF helicopter deal

MANILA, Philippines - An Anglo-Italian company has won the bidding to supply eight attack helicopters worth P3.44 billion for the Philippine Air Force (PAF).

The STAR learned that a notice of award was issued to aircraft manufacturer AgustaWestland late last month.

Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo confirmed the report, saying the helicopters may be delivered next year if the budget is released soon.

“If the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) releases the cash allocation, the letter of credit could be opened immediately and the helicopters could be delivered before the end of December next year,” Manalo said.

A letter of credit is a document that assures the winning bidder or supplier that the government will honor its financial obligations.

Defense Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez said the Air Force would be getting eight 109 Power (109 P) attack helicopters with .50 caliber machine guns and rocket launchers.
Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1

“We will be offered a combination of rocket launchers and two .50 caliber (machine guns). We were able to negotiate that the rocket launchers to be installed could fire rockets,” Velez said.

In its website, AgustaWestland described 109 Power helicopters as “versatile aircraft that offers the highest level of benefits for commercial, government and military markets.”

“The Power’s flexibility allows it to perform executive transport with stylish elegance, offshore and emergency medical services or conduct surveillance and patrol missions for police forces,” the description read.

AgustaWestland, the lone bidder for the project, offered to supply the eight helicopters for P3,441,415,000.

The bid is just P45,000 lower than the P3,441,460,000 approved budget for the helicopters.

A financial bid, however, could be accepted as long as it falls within the budget.

Defense officials previously said that the bid price is lower compared to the helicopters purchased by other countries.

The bid translates to 7.532 million euros per unit (about P430.15 million), lower than the package price per unit of the helicopters acquired by the Bulgarian police (7.547 million euros) and the Bangladesh Navy (8.6 million euros).

In its bid bulletin, the defense department said the helicopters to be purchased should have full night operation capability with complete weapons system and integrated logistics support package.

They should also be capable of navigating in bad weather and performing close air support.

The helicopters should be delivered within 540 calendar days from the opening of the letter of credit.

http://www.philstar.com

Citation :

Navy to commission BRP Alcaraz in November


MANILA, Philippines - The Navy will commission its newest warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz in the third week of November.
Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Fabic said the frigate is undergoing the final phase of dry docking and repainting procedure.
"The commissioning and blessing (of the ship) may be held within the third week of November,” Fabic said in a text message.
He said President Aquino was invited to attend the ceremony but his attendance in the event is still being confirmed from the Presidential Management Staff.
“We are also looking at SBMA (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority) as the venue. But nothing is definite yet. We are still in the planning process,” Fabic said.
The government acquired the BRP Alcaraz from the United States (US) Coast Guard to enhance the Navy’s maritime security capabilities.
Manned by 14 officers and 74 enlisted personnel, BRP Alcaraz reached Philippine waters last August 2 via Casiguran, Aurora.
The ship left its homeport in Charleston, South Carolina last June 10 and made port visits to San Diego and Honolulu, Hawaii before sailing for its last stopover in Guam. The BRP Alcaraz started sailing for Manila on July 27.
The ship was formally welcomed last Aug. 6 in a ceremony led by Aquino, who is also the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces.
The ship was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Navy officer who commanded a patrol boat that shot three Japanese aircraft during World War II.
The US Coast Guard used the vessel for drug and migrant interdiction, law enforcement, search and rescue, living marine resources protection, and defense readiness.
BRP Alcaraz is the second frigate acquired by the Philippines from the US. The first one is BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which was commissioned by the Navy in 2011.
The government spent about P450 million to acquire BRP del Pilar and more than P600 million to acquire BRP Alcaraz. The two decades-old ships were acquired under the US defense excess article program.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/10/23/1248618/navy-commission-brp-alcaraz-november

Citation :

Philippine military modernisation 'to stay on course' despite typhoon Haiyan

The modernisation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will remain on track despite the anticipated economic impact of Typhoon Haiyan, Philippine Air Force (PAF) spokesman Colonel Miguel Okol told IHS Jane's on 12 November.
Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines' central islands on 8 November and caused devastation, killing more than an estimated 10,000 people to make it the country's worst natural disaster. Damage caused by the storm is estimated to cost between USD12 billion and USD14 billion, or up to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Despite this, Col Okol was adamant that the modernisation of the AFP would not be affected, including those programmes close to finalisation, such as the PAF's acquisition of 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft from Korea Aerospace Industries for USD300 million and the Philippine Navy's (PN's) recently launched project to purchase two light frigates for about USD420 million.

http://www.janes.com/article/29935/philippine-military-modernisation-to-stay-on-course-despite-typhoon-haiyan

Citation :

Manila says typhoon shows need for US-Philippine military accord

The swift US humanitarian response to the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan highlights the need to expand America's military presence in the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday.

MANILA: The swift US humanitarian response to the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan highlights the need to expand America's military presence in the Philippines, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday.
He said a proposed agreement to strengthen the US military presence, which was being negotiated as the storm struck on November 8, would allow for the easier delivery of relief aid by US forces in the future.
"I think the typhoon demonstrates the need for this framework," del Rosario told reporters after meeting a US congressional delegation.
"It accentuates one of the main purposes of this framework, which is to make humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and response one of the major aspects of this agreement."
The proposed deal would allow more US troops, aircraft and ships to pass through the Philippines at a time when Washington is refocusing its attention on Asia.
It had also been seen as a counterweight to Chinese moves in the South China Sea, where Beijing has territorial disputes with US ally Manila.
Despite months of talks, the Philippine and US governments have failed to sign the agreement due to some differences in their respective positions.
However the United States, particularly its military, has burnished its image in the former US colony through its extensive relief work after the typhoon ravaged the central Philippine islands, leaving almost 7,000 dead or missing.
Planes and helicopters from a US carrier group are leading an airlift of emergency aid to dozens of affected towns and villages.
"We want to be part of the solution," US House of Representatives member Christopher Smith, who headed a congressional delegation to inspect the relief efforts, told a joint news conference.
He said del Rosario mentioned that the Philippines would need $1.3 billion to rebuild storm-damaged houses.
A USAID statement on its website said the United States had provided nearly $52 million in aid since the typhoon hit.
A US military statement also said that at its peak, 13 US ships and nearly 8,000 American sailors and marines were involved in the relief efforts, particularly in transporting much-needed food and water.
The Philippines previously hosted huge US military bases but the last of these closed in 1992.
Washington says it does not seek new bases but only a greater "rotational" presence.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/manila-says-typhoon-shows/899352.html

Citation :

Armed Forces to build pier, harbor near Spratlys


MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines plan to build a pier and harbor at a naval base in Palawan, the island province closest to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, according to officials and a defense document.
Military officials confirmed Wednesday to reporters the plan to build "pier, harbor and support facilities" in Oyster Bay -- the navy's shipyard directly facing the South China Sea.
The project will cost around 313 million pesos (around $7.29 million), according to the document.
The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have invited companies to bid on the project from Dec. 2.
Commodore Natalio Abinuman, commander of the Philippine Naval Forces West in Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa, said the project, when completed, will boost the Philippine territorial defense, adding the existing pier, harbor and facilities in Oyster Bay are dilapidated.
"We need this new port to refuel our ships...(and) to improve the support system for our ships that are deployed in the South China Sea," Abinuman said.
Lt. Cheryl Tindog, spokeswoman for the military's Western Command based in Palawan, also said the new facility will "improve our capability in terms of territorial defense...(and) internal security operations."
"Whether there is an emerging threat or none, I think the improvement of the facilities of our naval forces is just, especially those that are involved in our territorial integrity (operations)."
She said the navy has long been planning to upgrade the decades-old facilities in Oyster Bay. "We are very happy that the improvement of our facilities is materializing now," she told reporters.
Manila and Washington are negotiating a new agreement to grant the U.S. military "expanded access" to Philippine airfields and ports, specifically for "servicing and maintenance," including refueling and repair of U.S. aircraft and warships.
Philippine and U.S. officials have been silent about the details of the negotiations, but sources said Oyster Bay, a cove nestled in mangrove forests and limestone cliffs, is among the facilities that will be made accessible to the U.S. military.
China has territorial and maritime disputes with the Philippines over islands, shoals, cays and reefs in the South China Sea and has acted "assertively" in the area in recent years, alarming the Philippines and claimants Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
The United States has repeatedly said it will not take sides in the various disputes, while urging claimants to resolve their differences peacefully.
The Philippines' 1987 Constitution bans permanent foreign military basing on its soil, but the United States maintains strong security ties with the Philippines through a 1951 mutual defense treaty.
In 1998, Washington and Manila forged a visiting forces agreement, paving the way for increased military cooperation under the 1951 treaty.
Under the pact, the United States conducts ship visits to Philippine ports and resumes large combined military exercises with Philippine forces.

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/11/20/13/armed-forces-build-pier-harbor-near-spratlys

Citation :

Philippine Navy Frigate Program: An OPV by Any Other Name?

The Philippine Navy has unveiled bidding specifications to purchase it’s first new major surface combatant in several decades. Titled “Frigate Acquisition Program,” this key milestone of the Capability Upgrade Program will reorient the nation’s military from decades of COIN operations and enable a credible defense against conventionally-armed opponents.
A closer look at the program’s bid specifications along with missions that are likely to be met by the platform, reflects the balancing act between cost and capability that all naval forces must perform when seeking mid-to-low assets. Is it really a frigate that they’re looking for? Or is it more of a corvette? Or even an Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV)?
It’s worth noting that at a functional view, the distinctions today between frigates, corvettes and OPVs are subtle; and in most cases, the label used is more about political expediency than clear-cut delineations about capabilities. For purposes of this article, an OPV leans towards enforcement or constabulary duties as opposed to being a dedicated combatant vessel, with a minimal weapons fit necessary to fulfill it’s function.
A Philippine Navy Desired Force Mix paper published in 2012 identified gaps in several operational specialties including Anti-Air Warfare (AAW) and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW); roles traditionally filled by frigates and corvettes. The bid specifications at a high level paint a picture of a multi-role combatant with embarked helicopter that meets both those capabilities, plus a moderate surface warfare punch.
However, a closer look at the requirements calls into question if the program is really seeking a frigate:

• Perform Economic Zone Protection Roles
  
• Operate up to Sea State 6
  
• Operational Range of 4,500 nautical miles @ 15 knots
  
• 30 Days Endurance
  
• Minimum upper speed of 25 knots
  

Starting at the top, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) specification combined with high endurance and rough sea-state handling gives signals that we’re looking more at a patrol vessel for primary use. The contemporary history of spats with China over the resource-rich Shoals and the Spratlys is a stark reminder that asserting claims in the maritime space is one of the Philippine’s political drivers for modernization. Currently, the Navy has only two vessels capable of sustained operations to the edges of the EEZ; namely the newly acquired High-Endurance Cutters (WHEC) from the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s logical that follow-on ships would enhance those same patrol and presence operations.
The lower speed range (most combatants top out at 30+ knots), large operating radius, modest cruise rate and long endurance time reinforce the idea of patrol rather than dedicated offensive operations. While a specific propulsion type is not mentioned, one of the reasons the Philippines did not leverage wide availability of gas-turbine ships in the used defense market is a concern for their high fuel consumption rates. That may be explained in some part by the doubling of the Navy’s Petroleum, Oil & Lubricants (POL) expenditure; seeming to coincide with the initial operating year of the gas-powered Hamilton WHECs. While the cutters by themselves cannot be the sole cause, it’s a reminder that with new acquisitions comes a increased overhead – there are no free lunches. Gas-turbine plants are also a novelty, having been introduced to the Fleet only on the WHECs – and an older model to boot. Given all that, it’s likely that the winning bid will be diesel-based. This is also a characteristic of patrol vessels, prioritizing fuel efficiency and a greater operating range while trading off reduced speeds for sprints, evasive maneuvers and transits.
Other aspects to consider:

• Embarked helicopter and rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) facilities, including full hangar space for the aviation asset
  
• Accommodations for special warfare or other occupants
  
• Selection of a 2D air search radar and Electro-Optical (EO) sensors
  
• A quadruple Surface-to-Air (SAM) launcher with infrared or semi-active homing missiles (5km minimum range)
  
• Two dual-box Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM) Launchers (total of four missiles, 50 km minimum range)
  
• 76mm main gun
  
• One (1) secondary stabilized gun
  

Again, some subtle differences delineate this vessel’s requirements from a pure combat craft. Helos and RHIBs are common to both ship types – force multipliers that enable presence, intelligence-gathering and and if needed, kinetic reach well beyond the ship’s limits. Conversely, they can also be used for search-and-rescue (SAR) and law enforcement. A possible supporting indicator is whether the winning bid uses ramps versus davits. The latter method is more versatile and enables SAR operations in rougher seas that would swamp a ramp-equipped ship. The additional accommodations, while noted for special warfare detachments, can also double as holding areas for refugees, survivors or detainees.
When selecting a sensor suite for a frigate, there are no advantages to having a 2D radar versus a more capable 3D radar that facilitates, among other things, effective anti-air warfare. Coupled with the minimal SAM armament that is purely defensive in capability, this cannot be one of the ships meeting the AAW role. The under specification of the SSMs (eight missiles are nominally found on most warships) is another indicator of the balance between versatility and weapons fit, potentially indicating that deckspace is either at a premium or needs to be freed for other purposes. The 76mm main gun leverages operational and maintenance commonality, as the Oto-Melara is present on other ships in the fleet. It is also just about the largest caliber that can be found on patrol vessels. No explicit Close-In Weapons System, a staple in modern warfare against missile-equipped opponents, is another tell. Very rarely are OPVs armed with last-ditch defense systems, and their secondary gun is usually a slower-firing weapon in the 20-35mm range rather than high-speed multi-barrelled Phalanxes or GoalKeepers.
Of the eleven prospective bidders, what are some of the offerings that might fit? The tight budget requirement really drives baselines to be a small hull, likely accompanied by a custom sensor/weapons fit that may not tick all the boxes.
[url=http://www.navantia.es/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Avante 1800 Corvette_r01%281%29.pdf]Navatia’s Avante 1800[/url] is an excellent candidate, ticking and in most cases, exceeding the requirement checkboxes. South Korea could be sitting pretty, as the pending sale of FA-50 fighters could put them at the top of the list to leverage same-source efficiencies. But it will take a lot of corner-cutting to get Hyundai’s Incheon-class frigate down-specified to fit the bill. While not in the prospective bidders list, other close alternatives are BAE’s Amazonas-class OPV, and ST Marine’s Fearless baseline platform. Other alternatives may be immediately disqualified on the basis that they must be “proven vessels,” – i.e., previous successful sales of the platform in the past ten years.
Given the short period that has passed since publication of the technical specifications, it’s not surprising that the [url=http://dnd.gov.ph/transparency/procurement/DND_BAC/Supplemental_Bid/SBB Nr AFPMP-PN-FAP-13-01.pdf]bidding deadline moved[/url] to the end of November, granting interested parties more time to build competitive proposals. Of all the hurdles they face, the one that may be most daunting is the projected total budget of roughly USD400 Million for both units plus integrated logistics support. The situation is further complicated by the notorious [url=http://www.gppb.gov.ph/downloadables/forms/GPM - Vol.2.pdf]2-Stage Bid Process[/url] that has derailed previous acquisition programs.
A term that will likely puzzle and frustrate the bid analysis is “Fitted for but not with” – meaning, “yes, we’d like to have Feature X, but if your bid doesn’t have it, it might still be okay and we might actually have the money for it but we can’t tell you right now.” It’s a very big symptom of the program’s tone of uncertainty. If no changes are issued to the technical specifications, then only pre-bid Q&A will enable prospective companies to tailor their offerings.
The program could quickly run out of steam if winning bids don’t emerge. If that happens, the bid process resets with accompanying waiting periods. Several factors are lining up that would make such delays to a successful signed contract fatal. For starters, the monies allocated will need to eventually be reset if not spent, requiring passage again through an already lengthy and onerous legislative process. President Benigno Aquino III’s term will end in 2016, and there is no guarantee that the following administration will be as supportive of military modernization. Finally, there is growing call for a rejection of purchases that are not addressing immediate security needs such as the Sabah and Zamboanga crises. Assuming a bid makes it past, they will still have to reckon with Stage 2, where potentially something as small as a documentation omission or error could force a reset back to the beginning as well.
To succeed, the Frigate Acquisition Program needs to move away from a minimums-only approach on technical specifications. A Request-for-Proposal that states minimums exclusively will beget minimums – driving the bidders to a cost-sensitive solution. By emphasizing what this platform really should excel at (i.e., surface warfare or AAW), this gives maneuvering room for the suppliers to build in additional selling points under the bottom line. This gives the Philippine Navy a solution that should satisfy cost limitations and deliver the most value.

http://cimsec.org/philippine-navy-frigate-program-opv-name/